






BY 



WILLIS VERNON COLE 



v^gMm' 




Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/poemsOOcole 



POEMS 



BY 



WILLIS VERNON COLE 

p 

Author of 
"Our Leader and Other Poems" 




ELEVENTH THOUSAND 



PUBLISHED BY 

MANGER, HUGHES & MANGER 

INCORPORATED 

209 to 219 West 38th Street 
NEW YORK 






\ \ 3 



Copyright 1908 and 1913 

BY 

Willis Vernon Cole 



All. Rights Reserved 

JAN -7 1914 






CI.A3G1510 



TO MY BROTHER 

Bond or free, of every creed or country, who seeks 

peace, health and immortality, these leaves 

of healing are lovingly dedicated. 



As a Man Thinketh, He is ... . 

A Healing Lullaby 

The Prayer that Heals 

The Healing of the Blind .... 

Behold the Man 

The Library at Stoneycrof t . . . 
Guide Thou me, Lord 

Death is Unreal . . . Illustration 

The Song of Life 

Animal Magnetism Dethroned . . 
The Practitioner's Room . . . . 

Fidelity 

Woman : Humanity's Helper . . . 

The Walk to Emmaus 

To My Blessed Grandmother . . . 
Gratitude and the Lepers . . , . 

To Maeterlinck 

The Prodigal Son 

A Healing Anthem 

Be not Afraid 

Good is My God 

Mind Healeth Sickness 

Song of Songs 

In Love I Rest 

The Spirit of Sure Success . . • . 
Thank God, My Heart .... 

The Secret of Christ 

To Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson . 

Transformed 

Abraham Lincoln 

The Sea of Galilee 



[6] 



Foreword 



^JI^RUTH, understood, heals the sick and 
^£]/ the sinful now, as certainly as when 
Jesus proved the power of God centuries ago 
by Galilee's quiet sea, through the healing of 
all manner of diseases, the destruction of sin 
in its myriad forms, and by his final and 
greatest victory over death. The might of 
Mind is still operative and available to all who 
are in need of purity, health and peace. 

This volume is designed as a vehicle by 
means of which to convey to the sufferers of 
earth, this spiritual truth : that Love makes 
free. Those who have "eyes to see and ears 
to hear " will find in these pages health for 
the sick, strength for the sinner, substance for 
the poor, and salvation for those who hunger 
for righteousness. 

Spiritual healing, fully demonstrated in 
the life and works of Jesus of Nazareth in 
ages past, and so conspicuous in the life and 



[7] 



teachings of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy to-day, 
may be understood and proven by all who 
look sincerely to their heavenly Father in 
quest of freedom from ills of the flesh. 

To help the reader know that God is 
All, that God is Love, and heals all pain and 
fear; to aid him touch the seamless robe of 
Life, and gain the consciousness that man is 
pure and whole and perfect as his perfect 
Mind; to crush out weakness, worldliness, 
and woe, and help enthrone the reign of God 
in man ; to prove that Life triumphant con- 
quers death, Love wipes out fear, and Mind 
heals all disease; to help man love his brother 
and know God — these are the thoughts that 
give this volume birth. 

w. V. c. 



[8] 



God is My Strength 

" The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be 
afraid ?"-Ps. 27. 

"In God have I put my trust. I will not be afraid of what 
flesh can do unto me. In God have I put my trust. I 
will not be afraid. What can man do unto me ? "—Ps, 

jZ(!) E strong, fair son of God, arise ! 

>J* Life's mighty hand hath struck the 
hour! 

Away, thou fears that mesmerize, 

Give place to Spirit's might and power! 

Ye sick, arise! Almighty God 

Doth hold you perfect, saying, "Wake!" 
Disease is but a finite fraud 

That Mind omnipotent doth break. 

Be strong! Free limbed and fearless be! 

Love's word is instant, bringing peace. 
Thyself as Life's expression see. 

Let pain, disease and sorrow cease! 

Thou sinner, weak one, from the night, 

Where thou doest lie in self-wrought 
chains, 

A knowledge of th' eternal might 

Thy freedom, as God's son, regains. 



[9] 



Though thou hast fallen, rise once more! 

Experience adds to thy strength; 
Each sin o'ercome exalts thee more 

To gain Mind's true idea — at length. 

Thy burden, mourner, Mind doth melt, 
And girds thee, fearless, fair and free; 

The crushing blow, fell chance hath dealt, 
Falls harmless when Love covers thee. 

Thou coward flesh and weakling earth, 
Thou hast no substance, truth, nor life! 

The Spirit never gave thee birth, 

Thou phantom scene of sin and strife! 

God is my strength! I have all might! 

There is no weakness; Mind is all! 
I shine the universal right, 

Man in God's likeness cannot fall! 

On! On! From strength to strength press on! 

Omnipotence doth hold thy hand. 
God's panoply of power don! 

No foe true Wisdom can withstand. 

O, irresistible and strong, 

The sword of Life with power swing! 
Bear up and shout Love's triumph song! 

Reflect omnipotence and sing! 

[ 10 ] 




"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23: 7. 

£\S A MAN thinketh, he is, my friend. 
skr\ The Mind of the Christ will a blessing 

send. 
Think of thyself as God's perfect son, 
His normal, harmonious, healthful one; 
Think of thy being, — Life's mirror pure 
Reflecting the Spirit from sense secure. 
O, let thy thought with thy Maker's blend: 
As a man thinketh, he is. 

Hast been long stretched on a couch of pain? 
Would'st freedom and vigor and health 

regain ? 
Think of thyself as the child of Life, 
God's master of anguish and fear and strife; 
Health is the law true man must express. 
Deny that life holds for him, pain, distress. 
Thinking Love's health will thy health regain: 
As a man thinketh, he is. 



[11] 



Art thou a sinner by Mammon bound? 

Would lustings of flesh thy true manhood 
drown ? 

Arise! Shine forth with one great desire; 

Denying thyself, to the Truth aspire. 

Think of real man as of nobler worth 

Than creatures that cling to the shameful 
earth. 

Through Mind mount high o'er earth's 
fruitless ground. 

As a man thinketh, he is. 



Art thou a weakling by impulse swayed? 

With thoughts on the Spirit, ah never 
stayed? 

Then let thy mind on true wisdom wait, 

Steadfast, ne'er waver nor vacillate. 

The lightning may flash and the senses roar, 

A sentinel stand at thy mental door, 

Then think of the way that our Saviour 
prayed. 

As a man thinketh, he is. 



[ 12 ] 



Art thou a pauper with hollow eye? 
Do chances of gaining success go by? 
Think of thyself with the wealth of Mind, 
A channel of Substance for all mankind; 
Think of Soul's resources, — infinite, 
Then manifest Mind by affirming it. 
Oh, end this limited slavery! 

As a man thinketh, he is. 



There is but one Mind and that Mind is 
God; 

Then why through earth's desolate by-ways 
plod? 

The harvest is white, and the laurel crown 

Is ready; now trample the senses down. 

'Gainst majestic Truth naught can militate; 

Love's freedom and might naught can vitiate. 

Be strong! Be pure! Be God's perfect man! 
As our Lord thinketh — man is. 




[13] 



A Healing Lullaby 

"I will lay me down in peace, and sleep : For Thou, Lord 
only makest me to dwell in safety."— Ps. 4: & 

^?THE moon is rising gentle o'er the mere ; 

Vi' And bathes the fevered brow of Earth 

with calm ; 
The night wind whispers softly "Peace is here;" 

All Nature brings her cool and healing balm. 

O, God's in His heaven, love; 
Fair in His heaven, dove; 
God's in His heaven near. 

The dreams of ev'en quickly fade away; 

Soon light will step through pearly gates of 

dawn, 
Rest little lamb until the gladsome day 

Shall bid the shadows of the night be gone. 

O, rest in God's bosom, love ; 
Soft in His bosom, dove ; 
Slumber sweet lamb, sleep on. 

The rosy sky fortells the waking Sun, 
Who brightly mounts the ladder of the morn ; 
The birds are singing softly "Night is done; 
Awake, thou child, another day is born! " 

O, God's in His beauty love; 
Full in His beauty, dove; 
God's in His beauty here. 

[14] 




Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son 
may also glorify Thee. Thou hast given Him power 
over all flesh "-John 17: 1, 3. 



[15] 



In silent prayer his heart goes out 

In virile, strong, repose. 
Affirming truth for God and man, 

As on through Love it flows : 

Within the silence of my heart, 

God hears me when I pray. 
"The hour is come to glorify 

Thy son, O Lord, to-day." 

Love's vital prayer is to affirm 

The Truth, and own God's sway; 

The deep and longing look toward Love 
That melts the earth away. 

His thought is ever one with Christ, 

His God is everywhere, 
He giveth life and strength and joy 

In answer to his prayer. 

Thou mak'st man loving, Lord, our Love, 

Compassionate and kind, 
Embracing all humanity, 

The perfect child of Mind. 

Thou mad'st him chaste, Thou God of light, 

As Thou art, pure in heart; 
Thou cleansed me, and to all who need, 

Thy healing I impart. 

[ 16] 



For Love I labor fearlessly, 

From apprehension free, 
Christ-crowned in strength and confidence, 

To light the world for Thee. 

Depression hath no place in man; 

Thy light, O healing Sun, 
Doth make me buoyant, glad, and free, 

Thou strong and joyous One, 

I have my being in pure Mind, 

All fear and woe above, 
Immortal, perfect, infinite, 

And patterned after Love. 

Mine eyes are perfect, and mine ears;* 
I strongly voice God's word; 

With action free, and being strong; 
Pure thought my loins gird. 

I breathe the air of Life divine, 

Free from disease or fear; 
No germ of earth, through sin or birth, 

May ever enter here. 

I have all beauty, symmetry; 

Love's glory lights my face; 
In form and outline I reflect 

The splendor of God's grace. 



* See "Science and Health, " by Mary Baker Eddy, page 585, line 1—4. 
Ibid 586 line 3-6. 



[ 17 ] 



I have all power, life and might, 

A Mind omnipotent; 
Thus panoplied in strength, I meet, 

And prove sin impotent. 

I have all substance, affluence, 

Abundance of Life's food; 
I break the law that limits man, 

And feed the multitude. 

Love gives an understanding heart 
With knowledge of Thee, Lord; 

I lift my voice in Wisdom's might 
To propagate Thy word. 

I heal all sickness, conquer sin, 

Annul the curse on man, 
Through Thee, Physician, great of strength 

I break earth's cruel ban. 

Strongest Redeemer! Mind of all! 

Thou pure light-giving Stream! 
Thou dost baptize the universe 

In Life, Thou Love supreme! 

O, what a wealth have I, O God, 

When I but realize 
Thou art my Father; I, Thy son, 

Am perfect in thine eyes. 

[ 18 ] 



The Healing of the Blind 



Go show John again those things which you do hear and 
see : The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, 
the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead 
are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached 
to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be 
offended in Me. "— Matthew 11 : 4-6. 



fiT OOD physician, give me aid! 

\z& "There's no help for you," he said 

And the blind one groped away with bitter 
tears. 

"Nature's therapeutic art 

Can no hope nor help impart 

To the one who knows the darkness of thy 
fears." 



Pray good pastor, make me free! 

"God afflicted you," said he. 

"Be thou reconciled, and say, 'Thy will be 
done.' 

In His mercy God doth dole 

Pain to cleanse thy sinful soul, 

And withholds from thee the gladness of the 
sun." 



[ 19 ] 



Canst thou help me, gentle maid? 

"God is Love, dear friend," she said. 

"In His grace He made man perfect, strong 
and free. 

What the senses say are lies; 

In Christ's name, lift up thine eyes! 

As thy faith in God, so be it unto thee!" 

Lord, Thy light streams down from 
heaven ! 

The discernment Thou hast given 

Of the Truth alights mine eyes to see Thy 
face. 

Pain and blindness disappear 

As Thy love removes my fear, 

And the consciousness of Christ my woes 
displace. 

O, ye sufferers of earth, 

Marred by accident or birth, 
When the theories of thine elders give no aid, 

From earth's barren creeds, above, 

Look to God, eternal Love, 
As the blind man to the God-inspired maid. 



[20] 



Behold the Man ! 



Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is 
in heaven is perfect/'— St Matthew 5:48. 



^STHE man who knows that evil is not 
%&y power, 

When it seems to be about the only 
thing; 
And that matter has no life nor real existence, 
Though the false beliefs of error close 
and cling; 
The man who plants his standard on God's 
allness, 
Knowing God is good and good alone 
is Mind, 
Proving law the truth which some may hold 
is lawless, 
And adverse to every theory of mankind ; 



[ 21 ] 



The man who makes his mind a golden dais 
Where the moral purpose mounts with 
diadem, 
And his consciousness an open freedman's 
rostrum 
To affirm the truth, each baser thing 
condemn ; 
The man who keeps his mind so filled with 
goodness 
That no sin, disease or death may 
trespass o'er 
The threshold of his thought, nor find an 
access 
To the soul whose perfect selfhood 
guards the door;* 

The man who's great enough to lead the 
simple, 
And yet simple, meek enough to teach 
the great; 
Who is sage enough to nourish babe and 
suckling, 
Yet is babe enough to set the sages 
straight; 
The man who turns his business into pleasure 
And his pleasure business in the Soul's 
employ ; 
Who with stern resolve can conquer every 
treasure, 
Then capitulate the thing he's won to 
joy; 

•Spiritual sense— S. & H. 

[22] 



The man whose motto reads, " Semper 
paratus " 
Who with thought alert upholds his 
righteous Cause, 
Nor will justify in heat his own high calling, 
But can leave that better part to wisdom's 
laws; 
The man who loves with all his heart his 
neighbors, 
Though they seem to be his enemies 
galore, 
And when crucified and scorned for all his 
labors, 
From his cross can look and love them 
all the more ; 

The man who's always there when you may 
call him, 
Even more so in your sore extremity, 
Nor will recognize your need as claim or 
claimant, 
But will grasp it as an opportunity ; 
Who proceeds to figure out the situation 
And explain away the error you have 
feared, 
Leaving gratitude in place of condemnation, 
Till you wake to find the dream sense 
disappeared ; 

[ 23 ] 



The man who begs not God to make him 
perfect, 

But who holds creation at that point now; 
Who adores the Lord because He made him 
loving, 

Nor the knee to any lesser god will bow. 
The man who sees the climax of creation, 

As the entity that God has made his own; 
Behold beyond sin's premise or mutation, 

The rightful heir to Mind's eternal throne ! 




The Library at Stoney croft* 

"Most current for that they come home to 
men's business and bosoms/' —Lord Bacon. 

Good friend: this room is where the authors 

dwell, 
Come — meet them all and mark their 

discourse well. 
Beneath these leathern doublets, prithee, find, 
True men of thought, who dwell in realms 

of Mind. 
They teach, delight, admonish and exhort, 
If thou thyself art of the fertile sort. 

*The country seat of Charles Stinchfield, Esquire, at Birmingham, 
Oakland County, Michigan. 

[24 ] 




O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me; 
let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy 
tabernacles/'— Psalms 43:3. 



<S 



UIDE Thou me, Lord ; 

The way is steep, 
My path runs through 

Earth's darkness deep. 
O make my lamp 

Thy blessed Word, 
To light my way. 

Guide Thou me, Lord. 

[ 25 ] 



Guide Thou me, Lord ; 

Teach me Thy will, 
Direct my steps, 

My yearnings still. 
O with Thy truth 

My loins gird 
To follow on. 

Guide Thou me, Lord. 

Guide Thou me, Lord; 

From vales of fear 
To heights of Love 

Make my way clear. 
Turn my desires 

All heavenward, — 
Pure prayers to Thee. 

Guide Thou me, Lord. 

Guide Thou me, Lord; 

From dread disease 
Bring holy balm 

From healing trees. 
Thou who hast quickened, 

Healed, restored; 
In perfect Love 

Guide Thou me, Lord. 

[ 26 ] 



Guide Thou me, Lord; 

I long for light; 
Thy love alone 

Dispels the night. 
O send the voice 

Our Saviour heard ; 
Who held his hand, — 

Guide Thou me, Lord* 

Guide Thou me, Lord ; 

The day doth dawn, 
The earth awakes, 

O, guide me on. 
See ! Light breaks forth ; 

Hope long deferred 
Gives place to joy. 

Guide Thou me, Lord. 









I 8 ' •••••• } 



[27] 



The Song of Life 



"/ am come that they might have life, and that they 
might have it more abundantly."— St. John, 10:10 

j^CROSS a weary world of woe 
*m^ There swells a joyous strain; 
The broken-hearted mourner wakes 

To harmony again. 
In seamless robe the risen Christ 

Shines forth to bless and heal; 
The sepulchre reverberates, 

Life reigns — death is unreal ! 

The grave-clothes of dogmatic creed 

Give place to raiment white ; 
The letter, which so long hath killed, 

Through Spirit shrinks from sight; 
The quickened sense of new-born man 

Awaked, doth rise to feel, 
As sickness, fear, and weakness wane, 

Truth lives — death is unreal! 



[ 29 ] 



Within the crucible of Love 

Melt murder, malice, hate; 
Dissolves each jealous tendency 

That would annihilate. 
A warm, sweet, tender brotherhood's 

Compassionate appeal 
Unites all heart-beats in one song, 

Love rules — death is unreal! 

The maimed, the halt, the lame and blind, 

Hear truth's redeeming word, 
And feel their fetters cut away 

By Science' tempered sword. 
Arise and walk! Man is God's son! 

All men their freedom feel, 
As dark abnormal sense-dreams flee, 

Christ reigns, — death is unreal! 

Art thou a widow, heavy-browed, 

Or mother, childless now ? 
Doth absent brother, friend, or babe, 

Thine heart in anguish bow ? 
In Life divine thy dear one dwells, 

Immortal, perfect, real. 
Dry thou thy tears, praise thou the Lord; 

Man lives, — death is unreal! 



[30] 



Animal Magnetism Dethroned 



'And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Bab' 

ylon the great is fallen For strong is the 

Lord God who judgeth her/'— Revelation 18:2, 8. 



# 



NE -THIRD of heaven's stars thou 

Leviathan! [claimed, 

The name of man to dust thou shamed, 

Leviathan ! 
With greed, and lust, and hate inflamed, 
The brow of earth with fear thou maimed. 
And monarch of the earth proclaimed, 
Leviathan ! 

Out from the dream abyss of hell, 

Leviathan ! 
Thou cast thy mist, chimerical, 

Leviathan! 
The suckling babe and ancient fell, 
The prince and peasant heard thy knell, 
Thou sought the light of Mind to quell, 

Leviathan ! 



[31 J 



Thou formed a universe grotesque, 

Leviathan ! 
A vain, fantastic arabesque, 

Leviathan ! 
Bedimmed God's likeness, Spirtesque 
Creation called thy crude burlesque 
Sin's law, earth's mandate, matteresque 

Leviathan ! 

The tombs of Cheops owned thy sway, 

Leviathan ! 
The Delphic syble kneeled to pray, 

Leviathan ! 
Great dynasties thy pride did slay, 
Their priests and peoples passed away ; 
Passed, worshipping in shrines of clay, 

Leviathan ! 

The evening star bestrode the sky, 

Leviathan ! 
And listened to a man child's cry, 

Leviathan ! 
The Logos came from God on high, 
That sin, and sin alone shall die ; 
Our God is good — aught else a lie, 

Leviathan ! 

[ 32 ] 



The kingdom of our God is come, 

Leviathan ! 
The reign of Spirit is begun, 

Leviathan ! 
Thy cause is lost — thy dream is done, 
Thy star is waned, withdrawn thy sun ; 
Fade phantom of oblivion, 

O, never wast ! 

Leviathan. 




The Practitioner's Room 



"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest"— St Matthew 11:28. 

Good friends, we gather here today, 
To truly think and quietly to pray. 
Here Love divine annuls each mortal claim, 
Then let thy voice be still — In Jesus name. 



[ 33 ] 



Fidelity 

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give 
thee a crown of life. — Revelation, 3:10. 

^JT^HE breakers lash themselves away, 
wl^ The thunder heads roll by ; 
Stalwart and grand the mountains stand, 
Against the changing sky. 

The lightning flashes o'er the cloud, 
The tempest tears the lea; 

The sturdy rock withstands the shock 
In calm fidelity. 

Outrageous fortune strikes her blow, 
Fate sends its circumstance ; 

Man brooks the fight in Spirit's might, 
The victor over chance. 

Loud clang the blows upon his helm, 

And shiver on his mail, 
But still he swings his sword, and sings, 

In Love I can not fail. 

God is my Life, there is no death ; 

Nor dark oblivion ; 
Above the strife, eternal Life 

Doth tread my foes upon. 

[ 34 ] 



A hundred times he fails to earth, 

More strong each time doth rise ; 

The earth he spurns, and ever turns 
To Truth, that fortifies. 

Resentment, malice, press before, 
Fear, weakness, lust and hate ; 

He looks above to perfect Love, 
His fears evaporate. 

He loves with ever-growing love, 
Makes Love his only prayer; 

He loves his foes, till even those 

Are brought to dear God's care* 

He fetters weakness and revenge, 

The passions' strength he chains ; 

Through his calm trust Love conquers lust* 
Till good alone remains. 

Temptation with enticing cup 

Says, " Come and rest in me." 

44 Get thee behind, thou carnal mind ! 
My joy is chastity." 

Though tempted, he will know no sin 

Nor subtle sorcery ; 
On God he calls, nor ever falls 

From his sweet purity. 

[ 35 ] 



The Titan forms of error quail 

Before his fearless gaze ; 
With every blow he fells a foe, 

A sin to earth doth raze. 

His trusted kinsmen turn from him, 

His allies fall away ; 
Clearer he sees when earth-help flees 

That God will not betray. 

These foes withdraw from off the field, 
When pestilence comes nigh; 

Yet dauntless still, with joyous thrill, 
He turns to God on high. 

There shall no sickness come by night, 

Nor weakness come by day; 
God is my health, disease through stealth 

Can not in man hold sway ! 

Suggestions of a bygone day 

Say, "See, we are not done." 
When error dies it cannot rise, 

Go hence thou evil One! 

When through pure Science' Christian mode 
The dreams of pain collapse, 

There's no return to tears that burn, 
No fear to bring relapse. 

[ 36 ] 



The haggard wolf of loss and lack 
Creeps nigh with aspect gaunt, 

My God on high is man's supply, 
Who meets my every want. 

God fills my treasures, with His love 

Brings wealth abundantly; 
The Mind of good, when understood, 

Gives all things unto me. 

Ambition leads him to the mount 
And shows him all the earth ; 

Man is exempt, and naught can tempt 
The Mind who gave him birth. 

No pride of thought can throw him down, 

Nor earthly prince deface; 
Humility alone doth see 

Love, and dwell in Love's place. 

Self-seeking, pride, and love of fame 

Say, "Be thyself a God." 
Away from me, idolatry ! 

Thy garish toys defraud. 

"I will be loyal to my God, 

My Leader and my cause ; " 

Forever true, O Christ, to You, 
And constant to Love's laws. 

[ 37 ] 



The sunlight bursts across the vale, 
A rainbow spans the sky ; 

He doth rejoice. A gentle voice 
Descends from God on high : 

' Thou hast been faithful unto death, 
Strongly thou braved the strife ; 

And now, well done, beloved son, 
Receive thy crown of Life." 



Woman: Humanity's Helper 

"[She] appears among the helplessness, the blindness, and 
the vindictive passions of men, as a gentle angel, to save 
merely by her presence, and defeat the worst intensities 
of crime by her smile "—John Ruskin.* 

What greater blessing might the Father send, 
Than thee most gracious, never-changing 
friend ? 

Had earth no record save true womanhood, 
'Twere proof sufficing, God Himself is good. 



* Ruskin's " Sesame and Lilies. " Of Queen's Gardens. 

[ 38 ] 



The Walk to Emmaus 



"Blessed are they that mourn; for 
they shall be comforted/'— St Matthew 5:4 

^?r|%UR heads were bowed low 
^c]7 As we started to go, 
And the darkest of fears did delay us ; 
We were mourning the loss 
Of our Lord, on the cross, 
On the heart-breaking walk to Emmaus. 

In anguish we cried 
" Oh, must he have died ? 

Oh, how could that brother betray us ? 
And no succor we hoped 
As in blindness we groped 

On our comfortless walk to Emmaus. 

So we murmured of death 
With each quivering breath, 

When a stranger in white did assay us ; 
Then our path shone with light, 
Making day of the night, 

On our wondrous walk to Emmaus. 



[39] 



"Search the Scrip tures," said he, 
" For 'tis they speak of me." 
And the joy of his spirit did sway us; 
And we felt not the loss 
Of our Lord on the cross, 
On the exalting walk to Emmaus. 

Then our hopes were raised high 

As an inn we passed by, 
And the voice of the stranger did stay us; 

When he brake for us bread; 
"Christ, our Saviour!" we said, 
On the glorious walk to Emmaus. 

And now, O my friend, 

As our journey we wend 
Through the byways of earth that dismay us, 

Let us fearlessly stride, 

With the Christ at our side, 
On our triumphal walk to Emmaus.j 




To My Blessed Grandmother 

"/ know thy works, and charity, and service, I will give 
[thee] the morning star."- Rev. 2:19-28. 

What scrolls of history could'st thou repeat! 

Through golden years, nearmost one 
century. 
Potential eloquence! More holy, sweet, 

Thy calm that tells of immortality. 

[40] 



Gratitude and the Lepers 



Blessed are they that do hunger and 
thirst after righteousness; for they 
shall be filled." -St Matthew 5:16 

OE unto him," the Saviour said, 
Through whom offenses," harsh 
and rude, 
"Will come." 'Twere better he were dead; 
The worst is cold ingratitude. 



m 



"Increase our faith, O Lord!" they cry — 

The twelve who hear the Truth he tells; 
He leadeth with a patient sigh, 
Admonishing with parables. 

They enter through the village streets ; 

A sorry group salutes their ken, 
The terror of whose sore depletes. 
'* Have mercy!" cry the leper men. 

Compassionate and firm withal, 

God's light upon His face is seen, 
As rings the Master's healing call 

" Go show yourselves,—- that ye are clean.' 



[ 41 ] 



Sound is their flesh, their blood runs red, 

And pulsates through its new-born veins. 

Nine men rush forth — where have they fled? 
But one Samaritan remains. 

One, redolent with gratitude, 

Returns to do his Master's will ; 

Still seeking Mammon's mocking food, 
The other nine are leper's still. 

O barren gain to those who feel 

The warmth of Christ, yet, heartless, cold, 
Remain but long enough to heal, 

And then their gratitude withhold. 

The thrill of thanks our being feels 

Removes the senses' primal curse; 
Reciprocating love reveals 

Forevermore God's universe. 



To Maeterlinck 

"Meekness, selflessness, and love are the paths of His tes- 
timony and the footsteps of His flock/' — Mary Baker Eddy ' 

A little blue bird — sweet content its cage, 
Hath watermarked with masterpiece 
thy page— 
Learn'd Dean of Nature's university; 

Thy mentor's — birds; thy President — 
the bee. 



* Rudimental Divine Science— Page 17, 1. 15. 

[42] 



The Prodigal Son 



* 'A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said 
to his father: Father, give me the portion of goods 
that falleth to me. * * * And he took his journey into a 
far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous 
living." -Luke 15: 11-13 

O, the Prodigal Son was a wayward one! 

We all may have been the same; 
For he mourned his lot, and he quite forgot 
The labor of love and the kindly thought 
And the price that was paid for the gifts he got, 

In his heart was a restless flame. 

So he must away and without delay, 
For the wine is red and the world is gay 
And the home is dull — let the dullards stay, 
The wanderlust is the game. 

O, the Prodigal Son was a headstrong one ! 

As all may have headstrong been; 
Strong his father plead, but his heart was lead, 
And who can plead with a heart of lead ? 
So he took his portion and off he sped, 

To the lure of the distant din. 



[ 43 ] 



O, the wanton way as the senses sway 
With their dazzling night and their deadened 

day! 
And the terrible price that we all must pay 
As toll to our gods of sin ! 

O, the Prodigal Son was a reckless one ! 

Can anyone cast a stone ? 
For he wasted his all with a lavish hand 
And he cut hope's tie to the utmost strand; 
Then the famine came and the youth did stand 

In his desolate waste alone. 

So he fed the kine, and he fain would dine 
With the wall'wing herd on the husks of 

swine. 
Yet there lingered a spark that was still divine, 
The hope that he might atone. 

O, the Prodigal Son was a tearful one! 

You know, we all shed our tears ; 
For his senses woke, but his heart was broke 
And he felt remorse like a floodtide choke, 
When out from the silence his conscience 
spoke 

As he wept o'er the wasted years. 

[44] 



So he raised his head from the servile bed 
And back to his father and home he sped. 
Cried his father : "He lives, whom we 
mourned as dead." 
Assuaging his puerile fears. 

O, the Prodigal Son was a wiser one, 
We all will be wise some day, 
For the sins of sense are a false pretense, 
And men pay death's wage as a consequence; 
So he sought his joy in Omnipotence, 
And he found it the better way. 

"Get the golden ring" cried his father, "Bring 
"Both garments and shoon that would grace 

a king, 
"Kill the fatted calf." And the lad did sing, 
His grief had been ta'en away. 

The Prodigal Son was a lovable one ! 

Experience makes one so ; 
For his brother fumed that the son resumed 
His seat in the home, who before presumed 
To mingle with wantons, whose lust 
consumed 

His substance in vagrant show. 

[45 ] 



Still he loved the more, and in peace forbore. 
"All I have" said the father "was thine before; 
"Be glad that the Truth may again restore 
The heart that hath fallen low." 

Now, the Prodigal Son was a transformed one ; 

Transformed as we now may be ! 
For his joy is sweet in the Life complete, 
And the power he sought in the world's 

conceit 
Awoke in his heart at the Father's feet, 

Where peace dwells through eternity. 

O' the nascent bliss when a soul like this, 
Redeeming itself from the dark abyss, 
And healed by the touch of a father's kiss, 
Lives on in humility! 

So our Master told of the Prodigal Son, 

And the parable taught is a poignant one. 

In its practical sense, through the scenes we 
see 
That he might have been you, 

Or he might have been me ; 

However the dream is done. 



[ 46 ] 



A Healing Anthem 



% 



Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, is one Lord. 
HERE'S a tumult, as of trumpets 



£)/ When they bay across the lees ; 
There's a murmer of the nations, 

Like the wind through aspen trees; 
There's a branch sprung forth from Jesse 
To eliminate disease, 

There is one Eternal Mind. 

Brightly gleams the star of being, 
Guiding to a risen morn. 

Sin and sickness disappear, 

For our Comforter is here. 
To our consciousness the healing Truth is 
borne. 

There's a beacon on Mt. Carmel 
From Beersheba unto Dan; 

There's a holy light reflected 

On the face of every man; 

While the world awakes to demonstrate 
Love's scientific plan, 

There is one Eternal Mind. 

[47 ] 



Calm and clear the dawn is breaking, 

Melting mists before the sun. 

Sin and sickness disappear, 
For the perfect Christ is here. 

God is Good and man His own beloved one. 

We've been scapegoats for sin's fury, 
While it lashed itself away; 

We have dwelt in tents of Kedar, 

Where they worshipped gods of clay ; 

Till a Woman with a message came, 
To bring the Truth to stay, 

There is one Eternal Mind. 

Brighter shines the sun in glory, 

Fading thoughts of fear and pain. 
Sin and sickness disappear, 
For the perfect Christ is here. 

Truth has brought to men Love's healing 
light again. 

We were taught to think of matter 

As the habitat of Soul; 
Sin and sickness as Life's attributes 

And death our common goal. 
But the false beliefs have vanished, 

For the Christ says, "Be ye whole!" 
There is one Eternal Mind. 

[ 48 ] 



Break, break, break! The Truth is breaking! 
Healing, healing, pure and strong. 

Sin and sickness disappear, 

For our Comforter is here. 
To our vision comes Life's blessed angel 
throng. 

There are little children singing, 

In the city of our Lord; 
There are men and women praying, 

Where before no prayer was heard ; 
There's a world redeemed from bondage 

By the mandatory Word. 

There is one Eternal Mind. 

Glory, honor and thanksgiving, 

Strength and majesty and peace; 

For the Spirit's healing voice 
Bids the hearts of men rejoice, 

While the whisperings of night forever cease. 




[49 ] 





ftftft- 




Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, 
for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I 
will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the 
right hand of my righteousness."— Isaiah 41 : 10. 



JU ^ not a ^ ra ^' O creepers of the earth ! 
^* The thing ye fear is but a senseless 
cloud. 

In God's name, rise! unloose the phantom 
shroud. 

Lo, o'er the earth Love's presence doth appear; 

The healing Christ triumphant draweth near. 

Awake O men! and be ye undismayed; 

Affirm, ye are God's sons. Be not afraid ! 



[ 50 ] 



Your enemies — confusion, woe, and shame, 
That broke your hearts, and gave men gall 

to drink, 
Are utterly cast down when ye but think: 
God is our Love, whose glory fills our hearts. 
Love holds man perfect; Life and Truth 

imparts 
The sense that renders evil desolate, 
Shames foes to naught, and shows as nothing, 

hate. 

Be not afraid, ye weak and wounded men, 
Weary of crying, sinking 'neath sore pain ! 
From sickness ye your freedom shall regain. 
The flood of Light that cleared all Galilee 
Dispels the shadows that have harassed thee. 
Arise ! and know by Spirit man was made 
As perfect as his God. Be not afraid ! 

Men make their woes, and damn their 

destinies, 
Conceding power to the dreams of sense. 
The antidote is : Know omnipotence. 
Proclaim the Truth — eternal Mind is all ; 
There is no matter; then crass fears will fall. 
The senses' thralldom, lust's despotic sway, 
Before God, Mind triumphant, fade away. 

[ 51] 



Ascribe all strength to Mind, O Israel ! 

Fear hath no cause, effect, nor dread disease, 

Though friends say help is vain, fear not ye 

these ! 
Though earth may melt, the heavens roll 

away, 
Inspired still by Spirit, stand and say; 
In Love man lives and moves, his God is here; 
Rejoice, in Soul, be glad! There is no fear! 

* 
Ye poor and needy, tarry now no more 
In habitations desolate with woe ; 
Make haste to dwell in Love, and firmly 

know 
There is no want; ye have the wealth of 

Mind. 
This is salvation's way for all mankind: 
Cast down the foes that 'gainst Truth are 

arrayed; 
Know God made all for man — Be not afraid! 

O for your sake, I will not hold my peace. 
Ye sinner, sick one, pauper, ye who mourn, 
The Christ is come, and says, be now new- 
born. 
Be pure, be strong, be affluent and glad, 
Strangers and sons, what waking dreams ye 

had! 
Rejoice, as fear's confusion fades away, 
Be not afraid ! Hail, everlasting day ! 

[52] 



Good is My God 



"Good is my God, and my God is Good; Love is 
my God, and my God is Love."— Mary Baker 
Eddy; Miscellaneous Writings.* 

fjtiZL OOD is our God, and our God is Good; 
^Z±r This brings men all blessings when 

understood. 
Mind is our God, and our God is Mind; 
As His perfect image is man designed. 
Soul is our God, and our God is Soul, 
Which leadeth to Spirit's celestial goal. 
Life is our God, and our God is Life, 
Who banishes weakness and death and strife. 
Truth is our God, and our God is Truth ; 
Revealing all beauty and strength and youth. 
Love is our God, and our God is Love, 
Exhalting from discords of earth above. 
Light is our God, and our God is Light, 
Dispelling the shadows of fear and night. 

When thus to our Father pure thought 

appeals, 
He answers, and helps and blesses and heals. 



!f? 



"Page 206, line 23. 

[53] 



Mind Healeth Sickness 



"Why art thou cast down, O my soul (sense) ? And why 
art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for 
I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my counte- 
nance and my God." —Psalms. 

tfjJtJIND heals all sickness, Mind reforms, 
mt*l%> Mind makes the sinner free, 
Mind bursts the bonds of false belief, 
Mind melts mortality. 

Life doth deliver man from death, 

Life brings earth victory. 
Life says, "O death, where is thy sting ? " 

Life giveth life to me. 

Truth casts out error, kills deceit, 

Truth brings surcease from pain, 

Truth lifts the veil that hides true man, 
Truth shows the Christ again. 

Love bathes all things in warm, sweet calm, 
Love maketh all men kind, 

Love with one tender touch quells hate, 
Love is my perfect mind. 



[ 54 ] 



Substance annuls the law of lack, 

Substance smites poverty, 
Substance reveals Christ's riches rare, 

Substance unlimits thee. 

Health is the atmosphere of Soul ; 

Health is Life's law divine; 
Health is unchanging, perfect, pure; 

Health is forever mine. 

Wake then, mine heart, and know thine own ; 

Thy birthright is God-given. 
Know that e'en now thou art His own ; 

Open is Love's sweet heaven. 




Song of Songs 



"The heavens declare the glory of Goa\"—Ps. 19:1 

The cloud sailed triremes wing deep heaven's 

ocean, 
The field's flash vert, the odors all are dew ; 
A robin's note drift's through the cosmic 

motion, 
The bridegroom wakes and Love is calling 

you. 

[55] 



In Love I Rest 



Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind 
is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in 
thee.— Isaiah 26:3. 

JTN Love I rest: 

JU. A sweet and gentle calm, 

By spirit blest, 

Doth still the senses rage, 
As when a shepherd's psalm 

The lambkins' fears assuage. 
Then tranquil on His breast 

I breath this aftermath — 
In Love I rest. 

In Love I rest: 

The fleeting dream of pain 
No more shall be expressed; 

God's peace and joy are here. 
Low, sweet, Love's calm refrain, 

Glad angels' voices clear, 
In strains that heal and bless, 

Do murmur, as they heal, — 
In Love I rest. 



[ 56 ] 



In Love I rest: 

The barren joys of sin 
Fade 'neath the Spirit's test; 

Christ wipes all stains away, 
Fear's anguish and its din, 

And Love alone holds sway. 
No more by sense obsessed, 

In rapture soft I breathe — 
In Love I rest. 

In Love I rest: 

Life's yoke is light. I see, 
In shining raiment dressed, 

The Christ, whose tender tone 
Calls, soft, "Come unto Me;" 

And from the Spirit's throne, 
No more to be oppressed, 

My soul sings, winged with 
praise, — 
In Love I rest. 



... -••o. .•••••. .•••••. .•••••. ••:• 



[57] 



The Spirit of Sure Success 



"Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy 
ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy 
paths'"— Proverbs 3 : 6. 

'Jjjt'RIEND, if thou desire me to express 
/^J\ The means of obtaining thy sure 

success, 
An unfailing road to Truth's treasury, 
Where windows of wealth open wide for thee, 
And the hidden bounty of endless Mind 
Hath an heritage vast for thee — all designed; 
I answer, be honest, be active and true, 
Then open thy mind, let Love enter through. 

Thus you'll realize, when you pray, 
There's no poverty, want, nor woe. 
In the substance of Mind 
All abundance you'll find, 
Through your being God's riches flow. 

The meek, we must know, inherit the earth; 
Thus nourished by Love they can know no 

dearth; 
Through foot-paths of peace Life doth lighten 

them 
To a kingdom, a crown and a diadem, 

[ 58 ] 



To a land without scarceness where longings 
cease, 

And abundant Mind doth their joys increase; 
While Christ to their hearts doth supply all 

things, 
As in rapture their soul to their Giver sings: — 

Dear God, Thou hast caused us to say, 
There's no poverty, want nor woe ; 

In the substance of Mind 

All abundance we find, 
Through man's being God's riches flow. 

Prosperity enters when fear is gone, 
Confide in God's grace and walk calmly on; 
Have faith in Truth ; in Love's sure reward, 
Make thine expectation, the blessed Lord; 
Lay up for yourselves, where no loss nor fraud 
May rob nor take from you the wealth of God. 
No blessing nor honor will He withhold, 
Whose thought is choice silver, whose love 
pure gold. 

Then shall we not know every day, 
There's no poverty, want nor woe. 

In the substance of Mind 

All abundance we find, 
Through our being God's riches flow. 

[59] 



Should you look to person, a place or thing, 
Or a mortal expedient, wealth to bring, 
Or outline the how and the when and where, 
Canst thou by searching find substance there? 
Thy friends will refrain and thy foes rejoice 
Till you list to the call of the inner voice; 
And breaking no longer the first command, 
Thy birthright— dominion through God 
demand. 

Almighty! Eternal God! 

There's no poverty, want nor woe; 

In Thy substance, O Mind, 

All abundance I find 
Through my being Thy riches flow! 

True substance is God, and our God is all; 
Then the lie that would limit all men must 

fall. 
Wealth gotten by vanity must decay, 
But the riches of Christ will remain alway. 
Real man reflects God, life's eternal Font, 
Who can manifest nothing of lack or want; 
But, blessed by a God who is all supply, 
He must prosper, enlargen, and fructify. . 



[ 60 ] 



As replenished, his soul doth sing, 
There's no poverty, want nor woe. 

In the substance of Mind 

All abundance I find, 
Through my being God's riches flow. 

Now, man of earth, be thou pauper or king, 
If thou seekest a way that will riches bring, 
Be loving, be pure, and cast out all fear. 
Be confident, strong; hold thy neighbor dear. 
Seek thine own reward in another's good. 
In wisdom establish Christ's brotherhood. 
You ask what practical good this may do ? 
It will make a channel for Wealth of you. 

Then you'll know, as pure Mind 
flows through, 

There's no poverty, want nor woe. 
In the substance of Mind 
All abundance you find, 

Through your being God's riches flow. 




[ 61 ] 



Thank God, My Heart 

JTf HANK God for the light, 

My Thank God that the night 

Has wasted and waned away; 
Thank God dark is gone, 
And the gladness of dawn 

Cries out, "Hail the joy-giving day!" 

Thank God Thou art near, 
Thank God there's no fear, 

O Love that hath brought men peace; 
Thank God that the tears 
That have burdened the years, 

Through Mind, the compassionate, cease 

Thank God I am healed, 

Thank God that the field 
Is gleaned of its tares of pain ; 

Thank God that the Christ 

Hath forever sufficed 
To establish the Spirit's reign. 

Thank God, O my heart, 

While Love doth impart 
The joy of the ransomed one. 

Thank God, for at last 

With sin's shadowland past, 
The laurels of Life are won. 

[ 62] 



The Secret of Christ 



'Now abideth faith, hope, Love, these three; but 
the greatest of these is Love."— 1 Cor. 13:13.* 



JTJ EAR Jesus blessed the Magdalene, 
>^* She felt her sin forgiven; 
The little children loved him, 

Who before had been forbidden. 



Of publicans he sat as chief, 

Explaining Love's sweet leaven; 

He asked the conscience-smitten thief 
To sup with Him in heaven. 

At Jacob's well, the woman, lax, 

Was melted into tears; 
He loved the poor demoniacs 

And rid them of their fears. 

For prodigals and wanderers 

His love increased tenfold. 

And little lambs heard patient calls 
Restore them to the fold. 



* Revised version. 



t 63 ] 



The broken 'and the contrite one 
Came unto Him to rest, 

And every heavy-laden head 

Found room upon His breast. 

So when the little fisher band 

Were mourning o'er their loss, 

They saw their same companion stand 
To crown their seeming loSsS. 

O, sing again the happy hymn; 

Each time it grows more sweet, 
As hand in hand we walk with him 

Who washed the sinner's feet. 



m m 



To Sir Johnston Forbes- Robertson 



Your Stranger is the guest of Art; 

Your Hamlet, Shakespeare s dreamed of 
thing. 
Were Caesar as your finished part, 

Then would he had been Tiber's king. 
But when from out the painted wings; 

Most courteous, yet withal most true, 
Your life interprets nobler things, 

It is the finest role you do. 

£ w ] 



Transformed 



" Where your treasure is, there will your heart 
be also." -St Luke 12:34 

Oh! believe me, when all these alluring sense- 
dreams 
Into nothingness vanish away; 

Like the mists of the vale when the glories 
of dawn 

Melt the shades of the night all away; 

Then Life's splendors untold in their true 
sense unfold, 
By their Master, exquisite, designed; 
And the objects of sense be replaced by real 
things, 
Finding birth in the infinite Mind. 

Then my heart count as gain thine ephemeral 
loss. 
As the land-marks of sense disappear, 
Like the will-o'the-wisp when the sun's 
golden flood 
Bathes the brow of the dew-bedecked 
mere. 
Spirit's handiwork fair; all the grandeurs of 
Soul, 
Where Life's lily, Truth's lake and Love's 
star, 
Ayont matter enshrined where true man 
reflects God, 
Midst the beauty of things as they are. 

[ 65 ] 



Since what we may love makes our world as 
it seems, 
Be it earthly or heavenly sphere, 
Where the heart doth sojourn there its sub- 
stance it finds ; 
Thought sees manifest what is held dear. 
O, choose ye to-day whom ye would obey; 

But our heavenly Father and Guide 
Makes us love not the world, but adhering 
to Thee 
On Thy kingdom eternal decide. 



Abraham Lincoln 



44 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down 
his (mortal) life for his friends."— St. John 15:13. 

Beneath the furroughs of that homely mask, 
Reposed the beauty of God's fairest son. 
Behind that awkward frame and clumsy hand, 
Resplendent in the Truth, dear Christ did 

stand, 
The animus of his collosal task. 
And through that rude yet rich humanity, 
Compassionate and tender friend of man, 
There shone the beauty of the One Divinity 
That freed the slave and brake the 

captive's ban. 
So South, North, East and West his love 

made one, 
As doth a lens the scattered rays of sun. 

[ 66] 



The Sea of Galilee 



"But after I am risen again I will go before you 
into Galilee." -Matt 26:32 

/i^ALILEE, my shimmer sea, 
^EE^ How I love to dream of thee ; 

Oracle of prophesy! 

Mirror of Love's ministry; 
Glancing, dancing, soul-enhancing, 
Shining, shimmer sea. 

Galilee, dear shimmer sea, 

Christ hath proved the Word divine, 
From these limpid depths of thine, 
Turning aqua into wine; 

Rushing, gushing, crimson-blushing, 

Shining, shimmer sea. 

Galilee, deep shimmer sea, 

O'er thy heaving bosom strides, 
Lightly as a trireme rides, 
Lord and master of all tides; 

Splashing, dashing, moonlight- flashing, 

Shining, shimmer sea. 

Galilee, dark shimmer sea, 

Storms are shrieking, loud and shrill, 
Sailors quail while vessels fill, 
Jesus whispers "Peace, be still;" 

Thrashing, smashing, thunder-crashing, 

Shining, shimmer sea. 

[67] 



Galilee, blest shimmer sea, 

Multitudes bedeck thy shore, 
While a Saviour doth restore 
Binding hearts to break no more; 

Beaming, streaming, glory-gleaming, 

Shining, shimmer sea, 

Galilee, sad shimmer sea; 

Now thy shadows form a cross, 
While thy tearful wavelets toss, 
Breaking, breaking o'er earth's loss; 

Sighing, crying, weeping, dying, 

Shining, shimmer sea. 

Galilee, glad shimmer sea, 
Glory be to God on high ! 
Adam's conquered — death doth die, 
Christ is risen — Jesus nigh! 

Gleaming, beaming, glory-streaming, 

Shining, shimmer sea. 

« 

Galilee, my shimmer sea, 
History's seraphic scroll, 
Record of the might of Soul, 
Roll within me, cleanse and roll; 

Roaring, pouring, peace-restoring, 

Shining, shimmer sea! 

[ 69 ] 



OUR LEADER 

AND OTHER POEMS 



DEDICATED BY SPECIAL PERMISSION 

TO 

MARY BAKER EDDY 

DISCOVERER AND FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE 
MIND HEALING 

AND AUTHOR OF ITS TEXTBOOK 

'SCIENCE AND HEALTH, WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES' 



BY 

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Single Copy, Two Dollars 



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